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Bet Bet Creek Soil Pit Sites | Soil information provided here formed part of a former National Landcare Program (NLP) project during 1995-97. As part of this project a number of soil pits were characterised for selected Landcare Groups in the North Central region - including the Lexton and Natte Yallock and Timor West Landcare groups. Soil pits that were within (or just outside) the Bet Bet Creek Catchment have also been included. Soil pit information can be accessed by clicking onto sites marked on this map. |
This area has a great diversity of soil types that reflect differences in parent material, topography, climate, organic activity and age (e.g. degree of weathering). Geology is a major determinant of soil types here. Soils developed on metamorphic hills Uniform textured soils that are shallow and stony occur on steep metamorphic ridges. These have high infiltration rates (in excess of 3 metres/day), indicating that this terrain should be regarded as having high recharge potential (Day 1985). | Soil Pit Field Day for Lexton Landcare Group (March 1995) |
Dermosol on upper slopes of Ordovician rise. Note variation in soil depth to rock. | Soils developed on Ordovician sediments Shallow gradational textured soils typically occur on Ordovician hill crests (referred to as Dermosols using the Australian Soil Classification). Texture contrast soils with red clay subsoils are more common on gentle slopes. The subsoils of these texture contrast soils are typically sodic and the soils are referred to as Sodosols (using the Australian Soil Classification). |
Soils developed on basalt Soils commonly with associated gilgai microrelief occur in basalt areas in much of the area. These soils are typically Grey Vertosols (using the Australian Soil Classification) that are often calcareous at depth. These soils are clayey throughout and display significant shrinking and swelling during wetting cycles and are characterised by significant profile cracking when dry (usually with large cracks up to the soil surface). Soil Pit Site LP115 is an example of a Grey Vertosol near Wareek. In some depression areas associated with the gilgai microrelief, the soils will more typically have a clay loam surface horizon overlying medium to heavy clays. The surface will be hardsetting and less prone to open cracking and the subsoil may also be browner in colour. Soil Pit Site 114a is an example of a Brown Sodosol between Bung Bong and Wareek - developed on the depression of a gilgai. Overall these soils have very low permeabilities and consequently a low recharge rating. | Gilgai microrelief near Wareek |